Last night was one of those spontaneous adventures that reminds me why I love photography—and why I’m lucky to have a daughter who is willing to come along and keep me company. We’d planned to chase Comet Tsuchinshan, aiming for a specific spot that I thought would give us a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. But, as is often the case with outdoor shoots, nature had its own plans. The sky was clouded over, dashing our initial hopes.

Determined not to call it a night, we scanned the horizon for clearer skies and spotted a break in the clouds to the south. Without a second thought, we turned the car in that direction and drove another 80 miles. The night was young, and the thrill of the chase was on.

By the time we reached Delta, hunger had set in. Luckily, one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Utah, Rico Antojo, was right along the way. We grabbed some tacos to go and continued west, keeping an eye out for the perfect dark spot to set up.

Eventually, we found it: a quiet stretch of land near Hinkley, where the sky opened up in a dazzling display of stars. My daughter, ever the keen observer, was the first to spot the faint glow of the comet, streaking across the inky blackness. I quickly set up the tripod and camera, and we worked together to capture the moment.

There’s something magical about sharing an experience like this with someone you love. We stood there, both in awe of the universe, knowing that no matter how far we had to drive—or how many tacos we needed along the way—it was worth it for that one perfect picture.

Of course, after we were done shooting, we realized we still had a two-hour drive home ahead of us. But that’s the life of a photographer, right? Anything for the shot, and chasing a comet for a hundred miles was just a great part of life.

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